Migeera residents petition Museveni over eviction

By Abou Kisige

About 300 residents of Migeera town council in Nakasongola district have petitioned President Yoweri Museveni to stop the district NRM chairman from forcefully evicting them.

The residents said tensions were high in the villages of Migeera zoneB, Kikulubyo, Nabiswera, Kyakala and Katuba and others.

They cited cases of people being abducted, imprisoned and also the destruction of their crops and houses.

While handing the petition to investigators from State House in Nakasongola on Monday, residents said the harassment was meant to subdue them to leave their land, which they say they have occupied for decades.

"Your Excellency we the peasants are suffering and nobody has come out to help. It is only you who can save us now. We have used all possible channels but failed," a copy of the petition read in part.

The residents say Christopher Nkoyoyo, an NRM chairman and his father George William Tamale, with the help of elements from Bukalasa Lands office allegedly forged judicial documents to grab their land amounting 60 acres.

"We currently have no money to go to court but we have managed to get all the necessary documents as attached on the petition. We kindly request you to use your office to order this man to give back our land and also punish him and his accomplices," the petition read.

 Florence Nalugonvu, aged 45 is one of the affected residents.

She says their grandfather Mikaya Kyakumwoyo bought 196 acres of land from Mikaya Mitogo, a Muganda by tribe before he died in 1933 and the documents are in the office of the Administrator General.

"But we were surprised that in 2005 Nkoyoyo forged those documents claiming he is the sole owner of this land. This is a clear indication that the title which was created is faked," Nalugonvu said.

She added that they reported this anomaly to the relevant authorities including the police, the resident district commissioner and the LCV chairman of Nakasongola but no action has been taken against Nkoyoyo.

"In August 2008, we went to RDC's office to complain and found a number of other people complaining about the same Nkoyoyo having grabbed their land but until now no one is bothered.

“He instead continued to use his position to evict more," Nalugonvu said.

Another potential evictee James Katabila told of his tale: "My 90-year -old father wants to commit suicide because his land was taken. But why should the old man take his life because of land? He has lived on this land his entire life," Katabila was clearly bitter.

He narrated that their tormentors attack at night and that most residents have resorted to sleeping in the bushes.

Efforts to contact Nkoyoyo were futile as his mobile number were off.

Meanwhile, Sam Kigula who headed the team of investigators from State house promised to hand over the petition to the president saying as government they are saddened by what has happened to “these innocent Ugandans.

"It is important to respect your rights irrespective of whether you occupy the land legally or not. There is no need for your colleagues to disappear, your property to be stolen or crops to be destroyed," he stressed.

Kigula further noted how extreme the situation has become.

"This is an urgent case because it is about life and death. These acts against our citizens should stop immediately.”